Pink Grease
Live at Fibbers (York) on Thursday, 18th November 2004
There's not a lot of bands that can make you feel like you're on a mind-altering drug when you're actually chronically sober. Robochrist isn't even a band, it's one bloke; some make-up, and some seriously sinister reference to the evil powers of caramel confectionery. This is music that bangs your head against a wall; something you end up doing afterwards when thinking of ways to describe the Robochrist spectacle. There's instants of ultra-slick ping pong between techno and metal, and interludes of samples that test your memory cells and recall cultish memories of youth. Robochrist himself creates the platform for the music to be unleashed, there is an relentless enthusiasm that helps filter the congested mish, mash and mosh to a shell-shocked audience, however there remains this feeling that people are not quite sure where to place their opinions on the act in their consciousness... they know it's different, they know it's intriguing but they don't really know what it is, but maybe that's a good thing...?
Honeytone Cody are blessed with an adventurous will and a striking lead singer but tonight didn't seem to bring together what looked like real potential. There was a feeling like they weren't really up for it; maybe this is because they were sandwiched between two fantastic frontmen (easy on the innuendo please), but the show didn't really blow anyone away as I think they intended. It was certainly something I would like to hear more of as there is elements of biting and kicking indie-strut pop but there needs to be more passion to make this feel like real substance.
Pink Grease flyers should come with a cigarette packet-style warning saying "STIs cause itching", because they certainly are greasy and very sleazy, but hugely commanding, with an aura that says "the bike sheds were never the same once I left school". There's not a lot of standout tunes but when they do come along the band has whipped up their audience into such a frenzy the tunes are given the treatment of rock and roll anthems. There are momentary snippets of frontman genius such as running into the crowd and dancing awkwardly (but with meaning kids) and climbing every conceivable item of frontline PA to elevate the performance. This is a party band that plays pants-down punk and sweat-shock rock, but a word of warning, you've got to in party mode to take pleasure in this... or at least really enjoy making up pretentious descriptions of musical styles like myself.
